Kamal Nath Raises Concerns Over MLAs Receiving Less Than 50 Votes in Villages

In the aftermath of the recent elections in Madhya Pradesh, Congress leader Kamal Nath expressed surprise at the results, highlighting complaints from former MLAs who claimed to have received fewer than 50 votes in their villages. While refraining from directly alleging electoral malpractices, Nath announced plans to discuss the party’s performance with both winning and losing candidates.

Congress MP Digvijaya Singh, also from Madhya Pradesh, raised concerns about the reliability of electronic voting machines (EVMs), stating that “any machine with a chip can be hacked.” This skepticism about EVMs comes in the context of the BJP’s victory in three heartland states – Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh – with the Congress finding solace in a lone victory in Telangana.

The election results in Madhya Pradesh saw the BJP securing 163 seats out of 230, while the Congress settled for 66 seats. This outcome contradicted exit poll projections that anticipated a close contest. Nath, who led the Congress campaign, expressed his intention to analyze the reasons behind the party’s underwhelming performance through discussions with party members.

Addressing allegations of EVM hacking within the Congress ranks, Nath emphasized the need for thorough discussions before drawing conclusions. Despite accepting the public mandate and congratulating the BJP on its victory, Nath faced calls to step down as Madhya Pradesh Congress chief.

Criticism also surfaced regarding the Congress’s overconfidence in anti-incumbency against the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government. On the day of the vote count, premature congratulatory posters for Nath appeared in Bhopal. The party’s strategy, characterized by fewer rallies and a seemingly lackadaisical campaign, faced scrutiny. Additionally, Nath’s handling of Congress allies within the INDIA bloc drew criticism, as disagreements during seat-sharing talks resulted in separate contests, ultimately dividing votes and benefiting the BJP.

With the Congress losing in three key states, allies emphasized the need for a united opposition to effectively challenge the BJP in the 2024 general election. Meanwhile, Digvijaya Singh revived the debate on EVM reliability, stating that he has opposed this voting practice since 2003 and urging the Election Commission and Supreme Court to defend Indian democracy against potential hacking threats.